Palestinians Form Committees to Assess Damage Caused by Israel at Al-Aqsa Mosque

Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and its Governor Adnan Husseini said Monday that the Islamic Waqf Department has formed four committees to assess damage and inspect property at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Husseini told Voice of Palestine radio that these committees are composed of staff from the Islamic Museum, the Manuscripts Department, the Reconstruction Committee, the libraries and the Sharia Court in order to give an initial report on what happened inside Al-Aqsa Mosque and its facilities during the two-week Israeli siege, WAFA reported.

The minister added that the next stage requires specialized experts to know if the occupation forces put cameras or listening devices in the mosque.

Husseini said that if the final report shows that the occupation authorities have made any changes in the mosque or the theft of any of its belongings, then work will first focus on returning these documents and then on pursing Israel in international courts on ground of stealing and damaging important historical documents and property in order to punish Israel for its crime.

The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) is also expected to hold an extraordinary meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday at the level of foreign ministers in coordination with the State of Palestine to discuss the recent Israeli escalation in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Permanent Ambassador of Palestine to the OIC Maher Karaki told Voice of Palestine radio that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad al-Malki will head the delegation of Palestine at this meeting, which will call on the OIC member states and the international community to act immediately to put pressure on Israel and compel it to implement international law and not to repeat its recent actions at Al-Aqsa.